South-East Security Key to Nigeria’s Unity, Prosperity — Information Minister

Oru Leonard 

Umuahia, Abia State – The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that lasting peace and security in Nigeria’s South-East are essential to strengthening national unity, boosting economic growth and advancing sustainable development.

Speaking on Thursday at the 2026 South-East Regional Security Summit in Umuahia, Abia State, the Minister said a secure South-East would translate into a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
“When the South-East is secure, Nigeria is stronger. When every region enjoys peace, our democracy flourishes. And when we stand together as one people, united by a common destiny, no force can diminish the promise of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Idris said.

Addressing participants on the theme, “Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening Security and Regional Stability,” the Minister stressed that tackling insecurity requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving governments at all levels, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and citizens.

Idris reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to safeguarding lives and property through enhanced intelligence sharing, stronger inter-agency collaboration, improved security equipment and expanded international partnerships.

He noted that the Federal Government was also investing in infrastructure, youth empowerment, education, digital skills development and support for small businesses, describing these initiatives as critical components of the administration’s long-term security strategy.

The Minister urged Nigerians to reject misinformation and support ongoing constitutional reforms aimed at strengthening grassroots policing through the establishment of State Police.

“Peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is the presence of justice, opportunity, inclusion and hope. Together, we must reject division and work to build communities founded on trust and shared prosperity,” he said.

Delivering the goodwill message of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, the National Assembly pledged continued legislative support to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.

Yar’Adua emphasised that sustainable security could only be achieved through collaboration among government institutions, security agencies, traditional authorities, civil society and citizens.
“No nation has ever secured itself through isolated efforts; security succeeds where partnerships flourish,” he said.

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, called for stronger regional cooperation and institutional reforms to address emerging security challenges in the South-East.
“The time has come to move from dialogue to implementation. Security cannot be achieved through force alone; it requires collaboration, community trust and collective responsibility,” Kalu stated.

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, described security as the foundation of development, insisting that meaningful progress cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
“We cannot afford to surrender this great land and its people to the forces of insecurity. Security is the foundation upon which all our hopes for development and prosperity rest,” the governor said, while advocating greater economic opportunities for youths, improved intelligence sharing and efforts to address the root causes of crime.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd), also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to protect lives and property through sustained investments in the Armed Forces and other security agencies.
He stressed that security is a shared responsibility requiring the collective commitment of government, communities and citizens, adding that enhanced training, modern equipment, improved intelligence gathering and stronger inter-agency collaboration were strengthening Nigeria’s security response.

The summit attracted key political leaders, security chiefs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, lawmakers and civil society stakeholders from across the South-East, underscoring a collective commitment to promoting regional stability and national cohesion.